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ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York attorney Rick Collins said he understands
why advocates might be hailing the state's new law raising the age of
criminal responsibility from 16 to 18.
But he said a major change to the criminal justice system has largely
flown under the radar. At the same time lawmakers raised the age,
they gave people with criminal convictions, regardless of their age, a
chance to seal their records from public view.
"I think it's a bigger deal," Collins said. "The reality is this
change will have broader effects upon society because there are tens of
thousands of New Yorkers of all ages who will be helped by this change
in the law."
This change in the law allows people who have not been arrested or
convicted of a crime in 10 years to seal up to two past convictions.
Collins, who worked with legislators on this issue as a member of the
New York State Bar Association, said the change will help those with
records get jobs, qualify for loans or move forward in life without the
embarrassment of a criminal conviction.
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Source: Syracuse.com (via The Empire Report)
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